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Transport Minister Adil Saleem has said that there is no need for Maldives airport to charge lower prices than other airports in the region.

He stated that even with the increase in handling charges to 51 percent, the charges imposed by Maldives airport are lower than other airports in this region.

In an interview with Sun Online today, Minister Adil said that since Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is a tourist destination, its prices do not have to be low. The Minister cannot comprehend why airlines are concerned when the Maldives Airport charges are still lower than that of other airports in the region, including Trivandrum airport.

“Our prices are much lower when compared with other airports. While Trivandrum airport charges US$ 2500 for ground handling, we charge US$ 1580. We are the tourist capital. There is no need for our airport to be cheaper. Our rates are still low,” Adil said.

Noting that US$14m is currently owed by airlines to GMR, he said that fees were increased not by GMR but by Airports Company, and that airlines were informed of this increase nine months ago.

“It is not easy for us to discuss this issue with the airport operator. They were not the ones to increase the fees. It is rather sad that renowned airlines resist the payment of an additional US$ 500 when they land their flights in Maldives,” Adil said.

He said that the only airline refusing to make this payment is Qatar Airways. The Ministry is currently involved in setting up channels for other airlines to settle the payments owed by them. Several airlines are requesting that the fines be pardoned.

“We are currently in discussions with these airlines to find solutions to these issues,” Adil said.

Referring to the incident of a Qatar Airways flight not being allowed to depart last night, he said that steps have to be taken if one party fails to make the necessary payments in business dealings.

When asked if this would negatively affect tourism, Adil said: “It’s not good for tourism to depend on one airline.”

The government states that the Airports Company is responsible for increasing handling fees to 50 percent from 1 November 2010.